Mumbai city news: This is the third extension the BMC has sought since the February elections

On Friday, Sena corporators said that all 227 corporators should be given a chance to present their views

Four days before submitting the city’s Development Plan (DP) 2034 to the Maharashtra government, the Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday demanded another 15-day extension from the state government.

This is the third extension the BMC has sought since the February elections.

On Friday, Sena corporators said that all 227 corporators should be given a chance to present their views. Keeping this in mind, a discussion lasting two to three days would not suffice, corporators said. After the previous extension sought in May, the BMC was to send the report with corporators’ suggestions to the state by July 18.

However, Sena corporator and leader of the house Yashwant Jadhav said that the state had granted it time till August 24 to pass the plan. Jadhav said that corporators were not told about the letter which was sent by the state’s town planning and valuation department.

“The BMC got the letter on May 26, but the civic chief did not tell us about it. Though we have time till August, we need 15 more days so that every corporator can share their views,” Jadhav said.

The leader has also demanded that the BMC conduct presentations on the plan in all 24 wards of the city. He said, “Corporators need to be trained so that they can give suggestions on the plan.” The letter also mentioned that the BMC would not get another extension. Once submitted to the state, the draft is expected to be published in another six months.

Sena’s demand was supported by its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress. BJP corporators, however, said that the corporation needed to chalk out a plan to discuss the DP. Manoj Kotak, BJP group leader in the BMC said, “If there is no method to this discussion then we will keep asking for more extensions.”

Meanwhile, Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar said that the Sena would not allow any changes in the open spaces reservations in the DP. A source said that Mahadeshwar was perhaps pointing to the reservation changes proposed in Aarey Colony.

While the BJP is pushing for a metro car shed in Aarey, the Sena wants its status as a green zone to be maintained. Mahadeshwar said, “According to the directives from our party chief Uddhav Thackeray, we will not allow any changes (in the DP over open spaces).”